Brinsbury College principal awarded MBE

Sally, who lives in Horsham, is also group deputy principal responsible for quality across the Chichester College Group.

She has worked for Chichester College - now the Chichester College Group - for more than 33 years, becoming an expert in improving the quality of teaching, learning and assessment at colleges across the country.

Sally said: “I was so surprised to hear the news but I am thrilled and honoured to be receiving an MBE.

“When I started teaching I would never have imagined I would be receiving an MBE for doing something I feel so passionately about.

“I feel very humbled and honoured.

“I firmly believe that everything we do should have a positive impact on the student experience, students are at the heart of everything I do. Equally, I believe that all staff should be supported and empowered to grow and develop.”

Sally began her teaching career at the London College of Fashion and joined Chichester College as a lecturer in beauty therapy in 1987.

She progressed to curriculum manager before becoming director of quality in 2010.

During that time, she introduced a new quality cycle which was practical and easy to follow and began researching new ways to approach lesson observations and refocus them as a valued professional development opportunity.

This research led to the introduction of a non-graded lesson observation model - many years before this became an accepted norm.

She also developed a new, award-winning observer programme - ‘The Licence to Observe’ – which has revolutionised the way lecturers at the college work, encouraging them to explore and develop their teaching practice.

Sally is passionate about teaching and learning and has worked relentlessly to promote a culture where innovation flourishes and teachers are inspired in a

Shelagh Legrave OBE, chief executive of the Chichester College Group, said: “Sally is so passionate and absolutely dedicated to her role and to improving teaching and learning in the classroom.

“Sally’s focus on teaching and learning improvements has seen more students achieving their qualification, as well as an increase in aspiration.

“Following the 2017 merger with Crawley College, which had been judged as ‘Requires Improvement’ by Ofsted three times from 2012-2016, Sally led the improvement of teaching and learning – introducing the successful coaching qualifications that she developed at Chichester and Brinsbury.

“Since then, the Chichester College Group - including Crawley and Worthing Colleges – was judged as Outstanding in all nine grades in March 2020.

“Sally works tirelessly, continually developing new ways to support lecturers and improve quality, not only here at Chichester but at colleges across the country – sharing her knowledge and experience with passion.

“On behalf of everyone at the Chichester College Group, I would like to congratulate Sally on the award of her MBE. She is an extremely worthy recipient of an honour that recognises her commitment and contribution to the FE sector.”

The Chichester College Group is the largest college group in Sussex and covers five main sites: Chichester College, Crawley College, Brinsbury College, Worthing College and Haywards Heath College, which opened in September 2020.